Film breakdown: What UK basketball commit Boogie Fland does well, what he can improve on

John Calipari’s track record developing professional-caliber guards speaks for itself — John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Maxey, etc. Boogie Fland hopes his name is added to that list.

The five-star guard in the 2024 class committed to Kentucky on Friday, choosing the Wildcats over Indiana and Alabama.

Let’s see what the White Plains, N.Y. native will bring to Lexington:

Boogie Fland’s strengths

SLASHING

Fland has called Ja Morant his favorite player in the past. From his pony-tailed dreads to the way he attacks the interior, Fland’s style is clearly influenced by the Grizzlies star.

Fland’s first step is explosive. At 6-3, he uses his speed to get by defenders and penetrate the lane with ease. Athletes with Fland’s athleticism and ball-handling ability are hard to come by, especially at his age.

It’s one thing when a guard gets to the paint at will. It’s another when they have a diverse array of finishes to make their drives count. Fland is flexible with a steady touch around the hoop.

The creativity of Fland’s drives is astounding. Like many New York guards before him, Fland is a master at wiggling his way through congested spaces and making something out of nothing.

These innate slashing skills lead Fland to trips to the free-throw line. Fland shot 5.5 free throws per game during his junior season. With an 82% mark on those shots, drawing fouls boosted his efficiency substantially. Foul manipulation can be challenging to learn, so it’s important Fland already finds his way to the charity stripe.

Players like Fland also craft easier opportunities for their teammates. He frequently collapses defenses, which allows him to find an open man.

Defenses have to pick their poison when Fland gets a step on his man. When teams overhelp, his teammates can cut or spot up in anticipation of a pass. Fland is a walking paint touch. He gets two feet inside at will and has the finishing and passing skills to round it out.

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SHOOTING ABILITY

In his past two high school seasons, Fland has made 36% of his 3-pointers in 49 games. He can be streaky, but he gets his jumper off. While he doesn’t get a lot of opportunities at the high school level, Fland is a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat.

Late closeouts do not affect Fland’s 3-point shot. He has a quick yet fluid release. When Fland gets to set his feet from beyond, there’s a good chance he finds the bottom of the net.

Fland is also a deadly pull-up shooter. His driving arsenal is scary enough, but when the jump shot is falling, I’m not sure how to guard him with single coverage. Fland attempted 5.8 3s per game in 2022-23, but he keeps defenders honest in the mid-range. His ability to be a three-level scorer should translate to the college ranks.

Having counters in the bag is essential for ball-dominant, shoot-first guards. If someone goes under a screen and lays off Fland, he can pop a 3-pointer in their grill. If Fland is played too tightly, he can blow by a defender. When he’s cut off from fully getting to the basket, he’s capable of drilling 13- to 18-footers.

Fland gets to his spots and fires shots away quickly. Fland is not someone who will hesitate when he has a sliver to shoot.

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What Boogie Fland can improve on

DECISION-MAKING

Fland is a fun player, but he’s not always the most cerebral on the court. There have been several instances when Fland took difficult, early-clock jumpers while a game was still up for grabs.

Although Fland only averaged 1.4 turnovers per game last season, some of these shots might as well be turnovers. When he’s got it going, these shots are excusable. But in the flow of a close game, these shots can be backbreakers.

Fland plays a high-paced game, which means he rushes himself sometimes. There were multiple moments during the Stepinac season where he was out of control and it hurt his efficiency. Fland made 47% of his 2-pointers in 2022-23. By no means is that a bad mark, but it is below the Division I NCAA average of 50.1%.

Hurried shots play a factor in Fland’s mediocre 2-point efficiency. Sometimes, he soars airborne too early before letting a play develop.

Fland may have speed comparable to Morant, but his leaping ability does not rival the former All-American. Since his vertical isn’t remarkable, he has to be more judicious about when to challenge rim protectors.

Going forward, it would help Fland to play off both feet more. That means getting downhill, coming to a jump stop and deciding what to do with the basketball. Doing this will help Fland better survey the floor and kick out to open shooters instead of launching himself into defenders.

Fland’s inconsistent decision-making raises questions about whether he can be a full-time point guard at the college level. He has a lot of room to improve as a passer, albeit he did facilitate better in EYBL play this summer. Playing with a little more patience will round out Fland's game.

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ON-BALL DEFENSE

Defending the ball is something Fland needs to work on before getting to Lexington. Fland is a Kenny Rogers-level gambler on defense. He’s an extremely handsy defender who goes after steals.

Fland takes a lot of risks that aren’t worth the potential reward. He lets himself get blown by because he moves his hands more than his feet. In March, North Carolina commit Ian Jackson drove past Fland repeatedly.

Fland can get caught guarding too tightly or being completely out of his stance. This aggressiveness can prove costly against superb athletes like Jackson.

Woodson always emphasizes the importance of defense on his squads. Players that can’t defend see limited action for IU. Fland must clean up his defensive fundamentals to become more reliable on that end.

Final Thoughts

Fland’s game isn’t polished yet, but he’s the type of player you let learn on the fly. There will be growing pains, but there will also be moments when he can do no wrong.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kentucky basketball recruiting: Boogie Fland scouting report